IGP's car arson: Sit-in decries arrest of 'innocent' people, warns of Tiddim bandh
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 19 2023:
Apunba Naharolgi Sakti and Konjeng Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi today organised a sit-in protesting arrest of alleged innocent people in connection with the burning of of IGP's (Zone II) car at Kwakeithel on July 17 .
Womenfolk participating in the sit-in held at Sangaiprou Mamang Leikai Gram Panchayat community hall today decried the arrest of individuals including one M Dashwamitra who had nothing to do with the incident.
Speaking on the sidelines of the sit-in protest, secretary of the local Meira Paibi body Kongjengbam Ashalata said the 30 people arrested by the police are "innocent" .
They had nothing to do with the incident and have been framed under wrong charges, she said.
She recalled that the stretch of Tiddim road was filled with people on July 17 evening with an alleged report of an army convoy ferrying some women doing the round.
Unfortunately, miscreants set afire the car of the high ranking police official at Kwakeithel in the night.
However, one Mayengbam Dashwamitra, son of M Dhanabir of Kwakeithel Konjeng Leikai who went out to buy medicines for his ailing brother from Kwakeithel Bazar was picked up among others by the police following the incident, she said.
Charge for arson was found pressed against Dashwamitra the next day, she said while condemning the Manipur police.
It is very ironic that Police had to pull up many innocent people from and nearby Tiddim Ground while the incident broke out a significant distance away at Kwakeithel, she said.
Condemning the trumped up charges, she also urged the State Government to release "innocent" individuals at the earliest.
She also warned of launching a series of agitation if their appeal is not heard.
Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur also joined the chorus demanding unconditional release of arrested 30 persons.
In a statement, the Meira Paibi organisation noted the release of 4 of 30 persons, who were arrested in connection with the Kwakeithel arson of July 17 night, on bail and demanded unconditional release of the remaining 26 individuals within 36 hours starting from today's midday.
A meeting regarding the arrest of the 30 individuals was held today at Ghari Awang Leikai community hall today in the presence of key functionaries of the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba including president Ima Longjam Memchoubi and other local leaders, it said.
Three resolutions were adopted during the meeting which was also attended by and near and dear ones of those arrested by the police, it said.
The resolutions, as enumerated in the statement, include demand for release of the remaining persons without any condition within 36 hours from July 19's midday and to call bandh along Tiddim road if their demand is not met.